“The Constitution is meant to protect the freedoms and liberties of all Iowans. It is inappropriate to use the political process to single out and deny a group of Iowans of their constitutional protections,” said Jenison.

The bill now moves on to the Iowa Senate, where Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has vowed to fight attempts to pass the amendment.

The measure must be approved by both houses of the Iowa legislature in two consecutive legislative sessions before being put up for referendum.

If passed by the Senate, the issue could be on the ballot as soon as 2013, but if Gronstal is successful in blocking a Senate vote this year, the earliest it would go before voters would be 2014.